La Junta city, Colorado Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

La Junta city is a small city located in Colorado. The total population is 7,211. It ranks as the 94th most populous out of 471 cities and towns in Colorado.

Age Demographics

The median age in La Junta city is 39.6 years. This is 6% higher than the state median of 37.5 years. 10.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in La Junta city is $54,253. This is 41% lower than the state median of $92,470. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 26.0%. This is 177% higher than the state poverty rate of 9.4%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 5.3%. This is 18% higher than the state rate of 4.5%. The median home value is $180,700. Housing costs are 64% lower than the state median of $502,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 65.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 66.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in La Junta city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 49.1% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 44.1%. The Black or African American population (1.2%) is well below the state average of 3.8%. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (44.1% vs 22.2%). The Asian population (0.6%) is well below the state average of 3.2%.

Education

18.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 60% lower than the state rate of 44.7%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 83.9%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for La Junta city, Colorado is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Colorado state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 471 Census-designated places in Colorado. For official data, visit data.census.gov.